.SAKALA
By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
FORMER Zambia Air Force (ZAF) commander Andrew Sakala yesterday regained his freedom after he was granted a K250,000 bail, pending his appeal to the High court.
Sakala was sentenced to five years imprisonment for stealing K1.5 million meant for special operations during and after the 2011 elections.
He has appealed against both the conviction and sentence in the high court and in the meantime requested deputy director of local courts Wilfred Muma, who jailed him, to grant him bail.
Sakala, through his lawyer Nganga Yalenga, promised to abide by the bail conditions that would be given to him and that he would not jumping bail.
In granting Sakala bail,
Mr Muma ordered him to pay K250,000 in his own recognisance.
Mr Muma ordered Sakala to present four sureties working in Government or quasi Government institutions.
He further ordered Sakala to surrender his passport to the court.
Sakala’s co-accused former Zambia Army Commander Wisdom Lopa and former Zambia National Service (ZNS) commander Anthony Yeta were acquitted by Mr Muma after he established that they did not participate in the theft of the K1.5 million.
His appeal to the High Court is yet to be heard.
